About Our Meetings
The success of a club meeting depends on the program participants. In West Hollywood Toastmasters, you learn by participating!
There are many ways to participate and all meeting participants play an important part in making the experience educational and enjoyable.
How Our Meetings Work
Our meetings are typically about an hour and 45 minutes long (when in person) consisting of three main segments:
The meeting begins with a welcome by our club president, Brianna Ancel, DL2, the introduction of guests and visiting Toastmasters, updates about club activities and any other club business.
After an 'educational moment' presented by a club officer, the presiding officer introduces the member who will lead and generally keep the meeting interesting and entertaining: the Toastmaster.
The Toastmaster gives a brief introduction about the meeting theme and then invites another member to inspire or humor us (and often times, both). The Functionaries are introduced and the first meeting segment begins.
Prepared Speeches
The first segment is prepared speeches, during which up to three members present (usually) five to seven minute speeches based on projects from Pathways, the Toastmasters educational program. After each speaker, members and guests give the speaker brief written feedback.
When all prepared speeches are finished, and if there were at least three, we take a secret vote to choose the Best Speaker. As speakers and Toastmasters, we should continually evaluate our progress to grow as individuals and contribute to our club in a positive way. The good-humored "Best Speaker" ribbon is one of many recognition methods we have. This is usually the point where we'll have a five- to 10-minute break.
Table Topics
The next meeting segment is Table Topics, which challenge members to develop our extemporaneous (impromptu) speaking skills. This is a challenging but fun way to ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak and practice speaking skills.
The member performing the role of Topicsmaster comes to the meeting armed with a series of questions, or Table Topics, related to the meeting theme. As the Topicsmaster introduces each topic, the sense of anticipation and rising adrenaline is palpable until, at random, a member is called upon to give a one- to two-minute impromptu speech on the topic. The spur of the moment responses often make us laugh deep from our bellies or motivate us to reach for the loftiest goals. They may come out of left field as often as they come from the heart. But always, we do our best, support one another, and celebrate our progress.
Evaluations
The final meeting segment is for evaluation. Members practice effective evaluation by giving the speakers feedback on their prepared speeches, recognizing strengths and suggesting opportunities in which the speaker can grow and improve. For the speakers, receiving feedback just as important a skill to develop.
Every step of the Toastmasters meeting process, from signing up for a role to turning out the lights after the meeting, provides opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills such as listening (or reading) and comprehension, giving feedback, time management, planning and organization.